DimensionalTips: Naturally Released
This tip is about amplitude release. You most likely have experienced the situation where you've been tweaking the release of the Amplitude Envelope for a while, and even after making it really long, it still doesn't sound natural.
The default shape for the envelope curves in Dimension is variable-power. This means, you'll see curves based in the formula x^k, where k is variable (using the shape control). When k=1 (which happens when you double-click on the shape to reset it), then the envelope segment is linear, the most common envelope type used in synthesizers.
Variable power envelopes are great for most uses: they offer symmetry in the shape manipulation, they're very easy to turn back and forth into linear and they make it easy to draw complex shapes using multiple nodes. When applied on release times, they're great CPU savers, as the release segment goes quickly to zero, ideal when we're making sounds where we'll apply heavy delay or reverb, therefore getting an exponential tail anyways.
OTOH, they just don't sound excellent when applied to solo, exposed instruments where we pretend a natural, room-like decay. There we need segments following the k^x expression.
Fortunately, Dimension features both variable-power and exponential curves. So, how do we turn a release segment into exponential? Here's how:
1- Click on the envelope window to give it focus
2- Highlight the ending node for the segment, by hovering on it.
3- Press the 'N' key (as in 'natural').
The segment will turn into dark blue, meaning it's now exponential. Couldn't be easier right?
Here's two suggestions:
1- For truly natural releases, make sure the last node goes well down to zero. The Master Envelope will take care of the final decay from the latest node to zero, so the curve effect might be lost.
2- Adjust the shape as usual. If the latest node goes down to zero, you can imagine the envelope segment as if it were 'continuing' its natural decay. This can also be imagined as adjusting the release time for the exponential curve.
Here's a small video describing the procedure. Too bad it doesn't show the 'S' to mark the sustain point nor the 'N' to mark the natural release setting, but I'm sure you'll get it anyways.
Natural Release And this is the 'bonus' for those who *do not* want natural releases. Yes you know I'm looking at you. The N segments can also be used in the middle of the envelope train, and adjusting the shape you get a nice 'jump', great to... uhm... to... well, just great
-René